This Annual Plan 2017/18 discussion document outlines what Council proposes to include in its annual plan for the coming financial year. We invite you to consider it and provide feedback to help guide us in our final decision-making.

The 2017/18 year is year three of our 2015-25 Long-term Plan and this document outlines some proposed changes to the Long-term Plan. These proposals that will mean changes to our financial policies and planned projects. The document also outlines some decisions made to support what needs to be done.

In the 2015-25 Long-term Plan we identified some key challenges including funding of services, balancing the budget, wastewater, rubbish and recycling services and progressing towards the district’s 2030 aspirations. These challenges remain the same and are considerations for our annual planning, requiring prudent decisions that respond to need.

This Annual Plan 2017/18 discussion document outlines what Council proposes to include in its annual plan for the coming financial year. We invite you to consider it and provide feedback to help guide us in our final decision-making.

The 2017/18 year is year three of our 2015-25 Long-term Plan and this document outlines some proposed changes to the Long-term Plan. These proposals that will mean changes to our financial policies and planned projects. The document also outlines some decisions made to support what needs to be done.

In the 2015-25 Long-term Plan we identified some key challenges including funding of services, balancing the budget, wastewater, rubbish and recycling services and progressing towards the district’s 2030 aspirations. These challenges remain the same and are considerations for our annual planning, requiring prudent decisions that respond to need.

Decisions and proposals agreed for the 2017/18 Annual Plan follow a series of workshops which were held during the past few months. Elected members have carefully considered each aspect and after receiving your feedback will make final decisions, with a view to adopting the finalised plan at the end of June, ahead of the new financial year which starts 1 July 2017.

We want to know what you think about some key matters before making final decisions and we’ve outlined these in this discussion document.

Decisions and proposals agreed for the 2017/18 Annual Plan follow a series of workshops which were held during the past few months. Elected members have carefully considered each aspect and after receiving your feedback will make final decisions, with a view to adopting the finalised plan at the end of June, ahead of the new financial year which starts 1 July 2017.

We want to know what you think about some key matters before making final decisions and we’ve outlined these in this discussion document.

They include:

Funding for the proposed East Rotoiti/Rotomā sewerage scheme;

Proposed change to waste services funding by moving to a 100% targeted rate;

Proposed introduction of a Museum recovery targeted rate to cover revenue shortfalls during its closure;

Proposed removal of the targeted rate for funding the Lakes Community Board.

These are additional to, or enhancements of, core council services. This document takes you through each of these and also includes for your feedback, discussion around short-term rentals to guide future consideration. We want to know how you think Council should proceed.

You’ll be able to provide input in a number of ways and those who make formal submissions will have the opportunity to be heard by Council if they wish.

I hope you will take the opportunity to let us know what you think and on behalf of all our elected members, thank you in advance for participating in this important process as we work together towards a better future for our district and its people.